mangai madam true s

Mangai Madam Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Temple

Bhattar of Annan Perumal Koil

 

Mangai Madam Veera Narasimha temple, one of the Pancha Narasimha temples of Thiru Nangur and a location where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had performed the Thathiyeeraadhanai for 1008 Vaishnavites as per the condition laid by his beloved Kumuduvalli Nachiyar of Annan Perumal Koil.

Mangaimadam Veera Narasimhar Temple is believed to be around 1000 years old. This is located in the small city of Poompuhar in the state of Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity is Narasimhar who is sometimes also referred to as Veerum and hence the name of the temple Veera Barasimhar. This is a unique temple which attracts thousands of devotees all year round.

HISTORY

Historians believe that long back there was a king of Thiruvalli, known as Thirumangai Mannab back in the period of Chola’s. He was a very benevolent king who was known for its goodness. He was a very big devotee of Lord Vishnu and wanted to adopt Vasihnavism. In order to achieve the same, he decided to offer special food called the Thathiyaaraadhanai to about thousands of people for about a year. This was his way of showing devotion towards the lord. The lord was pleased with this gesture and thus blessed him with a beautiful wife Kumudhavalli. After marrying her and attaining Vaishnavism in the place of Mangaimadam, the king decided to build a huge and magnificent temple in the same spot.

IMPORTANCE/SIGNIFICANCE

This temple is a part of the 108 divyadeshams devoted to Lord Vishnu and besides that, it is additionally prominent in the series of Narasimha Kshetrams which are five in number. Five Narasimhas are situated in five areas and the last shape Lakshmi Narasimha is set in this temple. People come here abroad to look for blessings for marriage, youngsters, wellbeing, and riches. It is extremely devout to hold ceremonies on Thursdays by offering diya.

A unique fact about the temple is that this forms the last in the series of Panch Narasimha Kshetrams which are shrines located to Lord Narasimha, all situated in the south of India. Further, legends unfold the story that Goddess Lakshmi was found on a lotus which has been marked here with her idol. A lotus always flowers at the very spot even without water and this is considered to be a miracle of Goddess. The architecture of the temple is again unique in its sculpture, design and the way the shrines encompass the idols of the lord.

 

 

Hari Sundar, son of Vasan Bhattar  

However, when he turned 15, Hari Sundar decided to continue the hereditary service and perform aradhana to the Lord at this Divya Desam. So he left for Srirangam to get enrolled in the patasala run by Velukudi Krishnan. For a decade, he learnt Nalayira Divya Prabhandham, Pancharatra Agama and also acquired a degree in Sanskrit. Much against the ‘advice’ of his friends, who thought he was taking a huge risk, he quit a lucrative career and moved to Therazhundur to join his father in temple service. There was no salary for it was the view of the HR & CE that without sufficient income from the temple, it would be difficult for them to pay the Bhattars.

It has now been three years since he started performing full-fledged service at the temple as a Bhattar depending on ‘Thattu’ Kaasu. And he has also found a bride, who despite living in Mumbai for 20 years, happily agreed to relocate to the remote temple town of Therazhundur. When Vasan Bhattar entered temple service as a full-fledged priest, the then chief priest told him: “Every time you enter the Sanctum, remember that you have been chosen among crores of people in India to perform puja and feed the Lord at this Divya Desam.” He repeated this to Hari Sundar, who draws inspiration from these words.

In Mangai Matam

Balaji Bhattar was just 20 when he returned to Mangai Madam to take up service at the Veera Narasimha temple, one of the Pancha Narasimha temples around Thiru Nangur.

 

Balaji Bhattar at Mangai Matam  

The temple, where Thirumangai Azhwar performed Thadhiyaradhanai for 1,008 Vaishnavites to please Kumudavalli Nachyar, was lying in a state of disrepair.

When Balaji Bhattar came back after completing his Vedic and Agama training, he began the process of restoring the temple, which meant work from the scratch.

After his initial schooling in Nangur, Balaji Bhattar came to Mylapore, Chennai, to learn the Vedas. He was initiated into the agamas by Lakshmana Dikshitar of Parthan Palli Divya Desam. Balaji Bhattar then took charge of the temple and has also revived many Utsavams including the Brahmotsavam. He succeeded in getting the devotees involved in the temple’s activities. A step in this direction was making the temple a part of the Nangur Divya Desam trip.

In a decade, Balaji Bhattar has proved that with hard work, devotion and dedication life is not so gloomy for a priest.

At Tyagarajar temple

 

Somaskanda Sivacharyar at Tiruvarur Tyagarajar temple  

G. Somaskandar Sivacharyar (33) belongs to the family that has been performing pujas at the legendary Tyagaraja temple in Tiruvarur. His grandfather was associated with the temple for over four decades, while his father for over 50 years. To repeat a story, situation changed over the decades and income for the priests dwindled, even the measure of paddy, which was give to them for service withdrawn. But Somaskandar’s father insisted that his son continue the hereditary vocation, even as most of his peers at other Thevaram Sthalams were already heading towards bigger cities.

After learning Siva Agama, Somaskamdar spent five years at a patasala in Mayiladuthurai, learning the Vedas. Right from his school days, he has been supporting his father at the shrine and hence was well-versed in the rituals. A decade ago, he took up the hereditary service at the temple full time. He did get invitations from overseas temples to serve there but he was not tempted. “Not once have I contemplated moving away from Tyagesa,” he says.

 

Kamla Malar Kannan at Thiruvellarai  

R. Kamala Malar Kannan Bhattar of Thiruvellarai Divya Desam is an engineering graduate from Sastra University. Having seen the financial challenges that his ancestors experienced, he planned to move away. But as he was completing his degree, he decided to dedicate himself to the service of Lord Pundareekakshan. Rejecting a bank job, ten years ago, he took up the hereditary temple service without a salary. Life is not easy and meeting expenses, especially regarding the education of his children, is daunting but the Bhattar is clear that he will spend the rest of his life at the Thiruvellarai temple serving the Lord.

At Thenthiruperai

The youngest in this category is 20-year-old Venkata Srinivasan, hailing from Thenthiruperai Divya Desam, who is just out of Patshala education at Madurantakam.

 

Venkata Srinivasan
 

As a school boy, he would support Ananthu Bhattar, the chief priest at the Makara Nedungkuzhaikathan temple, by carrying the torch during street processions at major utsavams. Pleased with his dedication, Ananthu Bhattar encouraged him to enter temple service. At the age of 10, he moved to Madurantakam to learn Yajur Veda, Pancharatra Agama, Sri Bashyam and Sanskrit. During a period of 10 years, he also performed kainkaryam at the madapalli in the Patasala.

The message from his Guru Annadhur Rajagopalachariar through this phase was clear “The learning should translate into developing our Sampradayam, spreading Sanskrit and most importantly taking care of your parents at their old age. Do not succumb to financial temptations and the lures of a city life.” He credits Ananthu Bhattar for constantly motivating him to return to Thenthiruperai.

Venkata Srinivasan joined Thenthiruperai in June last as an Archaka (priest) and Paricharaka (cook) for a salary of Rs. 500 a month. He is keen to spread Sanskrit among the villagers over the next decade by educating them . His parents have been a great source of strength in supporting his decision to remain in temple service as against a life in the city.

He does face financial challenge and his traditional attire and tuft may come in the way of his finding a life partner but Venkata Srinivasan considers the fulfilment he gets as the best reward.

this true story is all a few years back but the courage with which the youngsters served is commendable. What we are doing in the comfort of our homes seem so little when compared, May their tribe increase four fold.